Treadle



(No Model.)

J.'H. HOUSE. TREADLE.

No. 469,426. Pat6.]113 9d'F 6b..23, 1892.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY HOUSE, OF ADVANCE, MISSOURI.

TREADLE'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,426, dated February 23, 1892.

Application filed April 18, 1891.

To on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN HENRY Rouse, a citizen of the United States, residing at Advance, in the county of Stoddard and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Treadle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanical movements, and more especially to that class thereof known as treadles; and the object of the same is to provide an improved t-readle for use more especially on sewing-machines.

To this end the invention consists of the details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings, wherein-- Figure-l is a general perspective view of the stand of a sewing-machine with my improved treadle applied. Fig. 2 is a cross'section through the foot-piece. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the main shaft of the treadle. Fig. 4. is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective detailof one of the forwardlyprojecting arms.

Referring to the drawings, the letter Odesignates a shaft adapted to be oscillated by foot-power and used in the present instance for the purpose 'of driving a sewing-machine, although, of course, it could be connected to any other foot-power machine. The ends E of this shaft are preferably provided with conical or convex bearin gs, which turn in socket-pieces K. The latter have reduced and threaded outer extremities R, which pass through the machine-stand M, and nuts N are screwed on their outer ends to hold them in place. oscillate, as will be clear.

A is an arm projecting to the rear of the shaft 0 and having near its rear end a number of holes H, into one of which the lower end of the connecting-rod C is pivoted, the upper end of this rod connecting with the crank of the driving-wheel WV, as usual.

S is a strong spring coiled on the shaft 0 and connected at one end, as shown, to one of the sockets K and at its other end to the shaft 0. The tendency of this spring is to turn the shaft backward, or oppositely to the direction in which the feet of the operator would turn it.

F F are forwardly-projecting arms c011- WVhen so arranged, the shaft 0 may Serial No. 389,449. (No model.)

nected at their rear ends to the shaft 0 in the same manner that the arm A is connect.ed that is to say, the ends of these arms embrace the shaft, and set or thumb screws T pass through said ends and bear strongly upon the shaft. By this means the several arms can be set at any desired angle upon the shaft and to each other, and when itis desired to adjust the tension of the spring S all the arms are. loosened, the shaft turned, and the arms again fastened by means of their set-screws.

P is the pedal or foot-piece. It is preferably made heavier at its rear end, as seen at Q in Fig. 2, in order that it will automatically fall at that end. At its sides are outwardlyprojecting studs J, which have reduced tips that are seated in cavitiesVin the inner faces of the arms F, and by this means the pedal is allowed to rock.

In operation, the device having been connected to a machine, the operator sits as usual and places her feet upon the treadle. In depressing the same she overcomes the force of the spring S as the crank of the driving-wheel is ascending; but when she lifts her feet on the downstroke of the crank the spring S as sists in the work. The arms may be set 1ongitudinally upon the shaft at the point desired, there may be two of the springs, if needed, one at each end of the shaft, and various other changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. The device is preferably made entirely of wrought castings and may be painted, japanned, or otherwise finished.

What is claimed as the salient features is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a rocking shaft, an arm projecting rearwardly therefrom, and a connecting-rod leading from said arm to a driving.- wheel, of forwardly projecting arms mounted on said shaft and having cavities in their inner faces, and a pedal having studs projecting laterally from its sides near their centers and loosely engaging said cavities, the rear end of said pedal being weighted, so as to stand normally below the front end, substantially as set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination, with the socket-pieces K, mounted in the machine-stand, the shaft 0, Whose ends turn in said socket-pieces, and the spring S, connecting one of the socket-pieces with the shaft and being coiled upon the latter, of the arm A, projecting to the rear of said shaft, the rod O, connecting the rear end of said armwith a driving-wheel, the armsF F, projecting forwardly from said shaft, the pedal carried-by said forwardly-projecting arms, the ends of all said arms embracing the shaft, and set-screws T through said ends bearwith the shaft and being coiled upon the lat ter, of the arm A, projecting to the rear of said shaft, the rod 0, connecting the rear end of said arm with a clrivingwvheel, the arms F F, projecting forwardly from said shaft, and the pedal carried by said forwardly-projecting arms, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HENRY ROUS'E. Witnesses:

J. W. BURKS, J. T. STRATMAN, J r. 

